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Scarlett

Her fingers moved over the keys, the music stilted and methodical. Shadows drifted along her arms, keeping her company.

Rayner had left a few minutes ago after they had spent the last hour going over the layout of the cliffs again. They knew the lock was hidden there, but the space was huge and cavernous. It would take months to explore every nook and cranny of the place, even with Rayner’s extensive knowledge of it. There were hundreds of places she could have hidden it, and there could be just as many the Ash Rider did not know of. Rayner had sent his ashes searching while they were there, but they hadn’t had much time. On top of that, she had absolutely no idea what she was looking for. Saylah had told her the lock could change forms, and that Moranna, the female who had hidden it, had likely disguised it somehow. That female was also apparently Alaric’s mother, and Rayner had killed her.

Gods, she wished she could have seen that.

She’d plan more with Rayner tomorrow. Or rather later today, she supposed, knowing it was closer to dawn than the dead of night. Maybe they could go visit Ashtine. See if she knew anything.

Her song kept flowing as she switched focus. How long would it take for Sorin’s power reserves to be replenished? Knowing him, he would insist she draw from him the moment he woke, even though she hadn’t used that much of her own magic. What would his power look like now?

Then there was Callan. Rayner had filled her in on the things Nuri had said, but he didn’t know what had been said between Callan and the others to make them agree to leave him behind. He had been guarding Tula and keeping her hidden away. Something about the Alpha and Beta trying to lay claim to her.

Another thing to add to her list.

Scarlett hadn’t seen Azrael since she had left with Talwyn. The Earth Prince had escorted Talwyn to the entrance hall where they were all departing from, but he hadn’t said a word to anyone other than Talwyn.

She sighed. She needed to smooth things over with him. He was a prince, older than almost all of them. He had also become a valuable member of their company, and there couldn’t be discord among them. Not now that she had started putting her plans into motion. She knew he understood strategy and war, but Talwyn had not been the only one to pay the cost for this.

The door to the den opened, pulling her from her thoughts, and her brother walked in. Her eyes narrowed as he moved silently to the liquor cart, pouring measures into two small glasses before swiping them up and setting one on the piano before her. He looked better. Rested. Although his eyes were an icy blue like hers had been for years. How long would it take him to refill his reserves? Rayner had taken nearly two entire months, and he was only half-Avonleyan.

Cethin lowered onto the nearby sofa, sipping his drink.

“I do not wish to speak right now,” Scarlett said.

No, she wished to be left alone with her thoughts and her plans. She could have gone to her rooms, would have likely avoided this exact situation, but Sorin was sleeping. She could feel him down the bond. If she woke him, even unintentionally, he would want details of everything and would want to go see Cyrus. So she came here to not disturb him.

“That is fine,” Cethin answered. “I can do the talking.”

“I would rather you didn’t.”

“Too bad,” he shrugged, taking another sip of his drink.

Scarlett rolled her eyes, but she stayed put, her fingers never missing a note.

“I did not learn I could control what entered the Wards until our parents were gone. Saylah was on your continent, and our father had sacrificed himself to allow that to happen. When Saylah returned, she informed me that the gift had manifested when you entered the world. Two parts of the same key, you and I. But while she was gone, I thought…” He paused, taking another sip of his drink. “I did not know of you. I did not know where Saylah had gone or why. She does not share her motives or plans without purpose. The games of the gods are just that—dangerous games. We just happen to be caught in the middle of the chain reactions.

“When I learned I could control who entered the Wards, I thought I could fix things for my people. They had been locked away here, separated from the Fae. I did not wish to fix things so we could use the Fae to feed our magic, but to work with them as we had since the beginning. There had long been a balance from my understanding, and that balance was upset when the Wards went up. It affected more than us being able to leave our kingdom. Farmland stopped producing as well. The seasons got more intense. I think even the Avonleyans were surprised at just how much was affected by being cut off from the Fae. The lack of magic source became the least of their concerns. Many people moved east of the Nightmist Mountains, abandoning the lands farther inland where we have far more space. You have not seen those places or those who continue to try and make their living there.”

Scarlett’s song had slowed, but her fingers kept moving as she listened to him. She made no other sign of acknowledgment, but he kept speaking.

“I knew of the Maraans across the Edria. I had been told the story of the Great War since I was a youngling. Our parents tried to ease the burden on our people, and Saylah…” He trailed off, as if trying to find the right words. “I remember her disappearing for days, back to Elshira to comb through texts she keeps there. She has tried to find ways to change what is to come. For centuries. But even the gods cannot change fate, not entirely, once it is set in motion.”

Her fingers stumbled at the words, but she quickly recovered, her melody changing to minor chords.

“I thought if I could do something from here to ease the burden of my people, it would not matter how long it took for the Wards to come down. If I could get word to the Fae that they could seek refuge here, not be trapped behind the wards they’d put up, I could help more than just our people until Saylah was ready to make her move. So I figured out a way to get word out through Blood Magic.” He glanced over at her. “I did not understand the cost. And when I started practicing with the ability to let people into the Wards, I did not realize it was not only these Wards that I could allow passage through. There were other enchantments around the realm, and beings outside of our world got my message too.”

Silence fell as her fingers stilled on the keys, a final chord echoing in the room. “The things that attacked me?”

Cethin nodded. “Among others. But those? Those are why I am called the Cursed King. They have only ever come after me. Until last night.”

“Why the secret?” she asked, reaching for the glass of liquor.

“Because while they seek me, they have also captured Kailia and tried to take her beyond the Wards. To bring her to Alaric.”

Scarlett nearly dropped her drink. Her gaze whipped to Cethin in horror. “Why?”

He hesitated, but when her eyes narrowed, he said quickly, “Her story is not one of light and beauty, but it is her story to tell, Scarlett. Surely there are things Sorin knows about you that he would never share.”